Traction device



. l. WASHBURN TBACTION DEVICE.

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Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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HERBERT I. WASHBURN, OF LAUREL SPRINGS, NEW JERSEY. V

'DR-ACTION DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application led December 19, 19,18. Serial No. 267,438.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT I. WASH- BURN, of Laurel Springs, in thelcounty of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Traction Devices, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to traction devices for agricultural tractors orsimilar structures. l

The invention is more particularly direct ed to the crawler type oflsuch devices wherein locomotion is eiected by an endless track chaintraveling in contact with the ground.

An organization of the abovetype is constituted of a comparatively largenumber of moving parts which are ordinarily directly exposed to theaction of sand or grit under the rough usage for which the tractors aredesigned. As a consequence of such expo.`

sure, the sand or grit causes excessive wear thereby greatly reducingthe efficiency of the device.

In order to overcome these diiiiculties, the

the casin supplied from an ulterior sourcek such as t e exhaust Jfrom aninternal combustion engine or an air compressor, the pressure mediumdissipating through interstices between the various moving parts.

The device constructed according to my invention also provides for thecollection and partial ejectionl of any sand or grit droppin to theinterior from the upper run of t e chain.

The invention further comprehends other novel adjunctive features 4which lwill become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure I is a view partly in side elevation and partly invertical section, of a traction v device conveniently illustrating myinvention.

partly formed by sidel Fig. II vis a horizontal plan sectional view ofthe saine taken on line II-II, in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a vertical cross sectional view on the line III-III of Fig.I.

Fig. IV is a detail section along the line IVe-IV in Fig. I illustratingtheconstruction of the pocketed spokes of the sprocket or the tractorchain.

Fig. V is a view similar to Fig. IV show` ing in addition the positionof a spoke with re ation to the discharge chute.

Fig. VI is a detail plan view on'the line VI-VI of Fig. I.

Figs. VII and VIII illustrate in detail one of the explosion doors orcovers for the tractor housing and l Fig. IX is a perspective view ofone of.

the chain links.

driving n 'rol The traction device as herein illustrated consists of anendless track chain comprehensively indicated at 1, and confined tomovement in a circuit determined by a driving sprocket wheel ,2, `^atone end of the structure and idler drum 3, at the other end; its groundrun intermediatel the sprocket and drum being buttressed by smalleridlers 4 4, and upper or return run supported against sagging, by aroller 5.y These elements are inclosed within a housing formed in part ba pair-of spaced side walls 6 and 7, extending 'substantially the fulllength of the structure. Said side walls are spaced and rigidly unitedby a horizontal diaphragm 8, whose ends are curved upwardly as .at 9 and10 in concentricity with the axes of the sprocket and drum. The troughthus formed is substantially or approxilThe spokes '16, of the latterare V-shaped in `cross section as shown in Fig. IV, and the pocketsformed-by this construction, serve to receive the-excess dirt or sanddropping 105 from the chain, as the latter turns about the` sprocket inapproaching its upper run.

" The inner ends of the spokes radiate from a ange ring 19, concentricwith the hub 20,v

v of the sprocket.' The spoke webs 17 lying in a plane coincident withthat of the sprocket face, are supplemented at their infv nated by thelarge arrow in Fig. IV,`^"issubsequently dumped, during the reversal ofmotion, toward the central flange ring 19, and thereafter deflectedsidewise through the assistance of the spoke web extensions 18. The dustor dirt thus liberated is, in each instance, through the furtherassistance of the sloping back of the preceding spoke, directed to adischarge chute 21, leading to the exterior of the structure through anegress opening 22 in the side wall 6.

The flange ring and the hub of the sprocket are united by a series ofradial webs 23, and into the interspace between them, projects anannular fiared guard 24, integrally formed with the side wall 6, andfunctional in protecting the roller bearing 12, against the entrance ofdirt or grit.

The device is driven by a power shaft 25,

iupon which is fixed a gear pinion 26, the latter meshing with a gear27, mounted upon theJ sprocket shaftk 11. These gears are inelosedwithin a suitable rotective casing 28, bolted to the side wall l Thesupporting drum 3, rotates about an axle 30, whose ends are fixed withinslide blocks 31, guided for adjustment to take up the chain slack, injournaled. boxes 32, also bolted to the side walls 6 and 7. Theadjustment is varied by means of the set screws 33.

As shown in Fig. III, the shafts 35, of the idlers are Ajournaled inroller bearings 36, and provided with rounded ends functional in amanner analogous to that described in connection with the journalmountings ofthe driving sprocket. Each of the idlers consists of anindependently rotatable central member 37, frictionally retained betweenthe side disks 38 and 39,

clamped on the shaft bythe jam nuts 40. The disks are of a largerdiameter than the intermediate member 37, so as to provide a channel forthe reception and guidance of the chainlinks. Wear is reduced to a greatextent by this construction, since the flanges and the supporting faceare thereby permitted to rotate at different rates under the inducedpropulsion of the chain. The interior of the idler is filled with asolidilied lubricant such as graphite, access being aorded through aprotected opening 41 in the disk 38. The interior of the supporting drum3, is preferably constructed in a manner similar to the idlers 4, sothat the fla-nge and chain may be constantly supplied with a certainamount of lubricant from the in-v terior of these elements by excretioneffected .throu gh their movement.

The driving chain 1, is composed of a series of pivoted links 50 such asillustrated each side, the link is provided, intermediate its pivotalends, with an integral tooth member 52', having a configuration curvedin opposition to the teeth of the sprocket. These tooth extensions areof less height than the link proper, so that in assemblage, a continuousridge or track is formed by the faces 51 as shown in Fig. VI. This ridgeis engaged at its sides by the peripheral flanges of the idlers andthereby sustained against lateral motion during traction. A recess 53 isformed in each of the said tooth members of the chain link, to providespace for the heads of bolts 55, by which the replaceable groundengaging shoes 56 are secured. As shown in Fig. III these shoes are of adished cross section, and provided (Fig. I) at one end with lateral webs57, so as to more effectively engagel the ground.

Each link is further supplemented by a U' shaped inwardly turned sheetmetal sheath unit 60, which envelops the exposed portion of the link andis also secured by the bolts 55, being clamped beneath the shoe 56. Thesides of the adjacent sheath units 60 (Figs, I and VI) overlap and areoffset as at 61 in complementary serial relation at the region of linkpivots to permit relative angular displacement in rounding the sprocketor idler drum. Said units are also provided with complementary nestededges which are curved in concentricity with the link axes as shown at62 in Fig. I. It is. to be noted from the drawings that the Isides ofthe units 6() extend inwardly' to a considerable extent between thewalls 6 and 7 and thev series serves as a perimetrical covering andprevents the entry of dust to the interior of the housing co-jolntlyformed by the said walls.

In order to further guard against the entry of dust or sand, the housingmay be connected through a tube 65, with the exhaust of an internalcombustion engine or a source of compressed air. The scavenging mediumunder pressure thus introduced is dissipated about the circuit of thechain and escapes through the clearance space between .the sides of thesheath units 60, and the inner faces of the walls 6 and 7. y

Access to the interior of-the structure for the purposes of cleaning orlubricating is aorded through a series of openings, 70. Each of theseopenings, as shown in detail in Figs. VII and VIII is protected by acover disk 71, normally held inbplace by a spring are secured to swivelmembers 73, pivotally attached by bolts 75, to the side walls 6 and 7.By this construction the covers may be turned aside about the swivelaxes of bolts to expose the openings.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself tothe preciseapplication herein described since my invention may be readily'employedfor other similar purposes, and further that various changes may be madein construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A'tractor device comprising an endless track chain; supporting anddriving devices therefor; and an inclosure for said devices constitutedco-jointly by a series of sheath units carried by said chain, andcoperative Stationary housing walls overlapping said units.

.2. A tractor device co/mprising an endless track chain; supporting anddriving `devices therefor; and an inclosure for said devices constitutedby a series of inwardly turned sheath units carried by said chain andrunning between stationary housing walls, over` lapping said units.

3. A tractor device comprising an endless track chain; Supporting anddriving devices therefor; and an inclosure for said devices constitutedby a series of sheath yunits having a U-shaped cross section envelopingthe exposed portions of the said chain, and stationary housing wallsoverlapping the sides of the sheath units.

4. A tractor device comprising an endless track chain; supporting anddriving devices therefor; inwardly turned sheath units of Uy-crosssection enveloping the exposed portions of the chain, saidl unitsoverlapping each other at-the sides and also at the region of thepivotal axes of the chain links; and a pair of stationary housing wallsoverlapping the inturned sides of the sheath units.

5. A traction device including in combination an endless track chain;supporting and driving devices for the said chain; a housing for thesaid driving devices; and a dust collecting trough located within saidhousing directly beneath and substantially co-extensivewith the upperreturn run of said chain.

G. A traction device including in ,combination, an endless chain; ahousing for the said chain; a drivingsprocket for said chain, saidsprocket having pocketed dust collecting spokes; and a discharge chuteadapted to coperate with the pocketed sprocket spokes in deiiecting thedust to the exterior of the housing.

7. A traction device including in combination, an endless track chain;driving and supporting devices for the said chain; a Substantiallyclosed housing for the said driving and supporting' devices; means fordelivering a scavenging medium under pressure to the interior of saidhousing, so that the dissipation of said Yn edium from the housingthrough the interstices of the movable parts prevents the influx vofdust into the housin A 8. A traction device including in combination, anendless chain; driving and supporting devices for the said chain; ahousing for the said driving and supporting devices; means fordelivering the exhaust from an internal combustion engine to theinterior of said housing whereby the dissipation of exhaust ases throughthe interstices of the movab e parts prevents the iniiux' of dust; andspring pressed protective kdoors for the said casing.

9. A traction device including in combination, an endless chain; ahousing for said chain; a driving sprocketl for said chain,said'sprocket having spokes of angular cross section radiating from acentral concentric flange ring forming, conjunctively, a series of dustcollecting pockets; and. a chute coperative' with the sprocket spokes indeflecting the dust to the exterior of the housing.

10. A tractlon device` including in combination, an endless chain; ahousing for said chain; a driving sprocket for said chain, said sprockethaving spokes of angular cross section radiating from a centralconcentric flange ring forming, conjunctively, a series of dustcollecting pockets; a chute coperative with the sprocket spokes indeflectin the dust to the exterior of the housing; an an annular flaredguard projecting within the flange ring of the sprocket, whereby thesprocket bearing is protected against the entry of dust.

11. A traction device including in com bination, an endless chain; ahousing for said chain; a driving sprocket for said chain, saidsprockethaving spokes of acute angular cross section radiating from a centralconcentric lange `ring forming conjunctively a series of dust collectingpockets; and a discharge chute so located that, as the spokes ymove.angularly from the vertical ltoward the horizontal, the dust is dumpedfrom the pocket of one spoke on to the sloping back of the precedingspoke, and by the latter deiected to the discharge chute.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia.Pennsylvania, this 12th day of December 1918.

HERBERT I. WASHBURN.

Witnesses:

JAMES I-I. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

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